Fake, branded guitars

SlopeSoarer

Are the likes of eBay, Gumtree, Pre Loved, Friday Ads, Craigslist, etc awash with fake copies of famous brand guitars, which are meant to fool the casual buyer?

Jack_

They're not awash, but they are out there.

Generally, if you obey the rule of if it's too good to be true it probably is, and ask for advice from places like here before purchase, you'll be fine.

SlopeSoarer

Cheers Jack. It does make me nervous when I look at Chibson's, etc coming out of China looking pretty authentic (to my untrained eye).

Gizmo

Yep they are out there,see kipple's Charvel thread from a little while ago

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/114034/calling-charvel-experts-japanese-charvel-so-cal-pro-mod-neck-finish-happy-ending

If your sus about something you've brought or are looking at buying do as jack says and posted about it here,9/10 it will get picked apart within the first few reply's 

SlopeSoarer

Gizmo said:

Yep they are out there,see kipple's Charvel thread from a little while ago

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/114034/calling-charvel-experts-japanese-charvel-so-cal-pro-mod-neck-finish-happy-ending

If your sus about something you've brought or are looking at buying do as jack says and posted about it here,9/10 it will get picked apart within the first few reply's 

An interesting read and lessons to be learned.

thegummy

I would always be very weary of buying fake anything on eBay.

I bought a fake Shure SM57 microphone once and the only reason I knew is because I had a real one already and it immediately felt too light so I Googled the signs to spot a fake and it turns out it was fake.

The seller claimed he never knew and I believe it's quite possible if he'd never held a real one. Must be gutting to suddenly find out that for years you'd been using a cheap knock off lol

tampaxboo

Gizmo said:

If your sus about something you've brought or are looking at buying do as jack says and posted about it here,9/10 it will get picked apart within the first few reply's 

we should go even further and consider extending this FB 'get picked-apart' service beyond guitars we consider to be suspect, to all guitars fitted with a Bigsby.